What is PC Cleaner TSS?
The Malwarebytes research team has determined that PC Cleaner TSS is a Tech Support Scam. These so-called "Tech Support Scammers" try to trick you into calling their phone number for various reasons, all of which turn out to be fraudulent in the end.
More information about this particular one can be found in this blogpost.
How do I know if my computer is affected by PC Cleaner TSS?
You may see these warnings during install:
How did PC Cleaner TSS get on my computer?
Tech Support Scammers use different methods for distributing themselves. This particular one was offered as a free version of PC Cleaner.
But it also installs files that will produce a fake Windows Error screen with the Tech Support Scammers number.
How do I remove PC Cleaner TSS?
Our program Malwarebytes Anti-Malware can detect and remove this potentially unwanted application.
Because this program replaces the Windows shell, even in safe mode, it will require some extra work.
- In the product key field type yt-mq-6w and click on the button behind the field.
- If you did it correctly you should see this prompt:
- For some reason you sometimes have to do this twice. Once it works the fake Error screen will disappear and you will see the list of installed Programs and Features.
- In that list select the entry shown here and click on Uninstall
- If necessary confirm the following UAC prompt to allow the program to uninstall.
- Then reboot the computer and run a Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Threat Scan or, if you haven't installed Malwarebytes Anti-Malware yet, follow the instructions below.
- Please download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware to your desktop.
- Double-click mbam-setup-version.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
- At the end, be sure a check-mark is placed next to the following:
- Enable free trial of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Premium
- Launch Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
- Then click Finish.
- If an update is found, you will be prompted to download and install the latest version.
- Once the program has loaded, select Scan Now. Or select the Threat Scan from the Scan menu.
- When the scan is complete, make sure that all Threats are selected, and click Remove Selected.
- Restart your computer when prompted to do so.
- No, Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware removes PC Cleaner TSS completely.
We hope our application and this guide have helped you eradicate this hijacker.
As you can see below the full version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware would have protected you against the Tech Supprt Scam.
Technical details for experts
Please note that I was unable to record all the changes due to the nature of the infection.
You may see these entries in FRST logs:
() C:\Program Files (x86)\PC Cleaner Inc\PC Cleaner\PC_cleaner_database.exe
HKLM\...\Winlogon: [Shell] microsoft.exe [591360 2016-04-11] () <=== ATTENTION
AlternateShell: microsoft.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\PC Cleaner Inc
PC Cleaner (HKLM-x32\...\{9E560F39-4FB2-450D-8974-8D271E50A89C}) (Version: 1.0.0 - PC Cleaner Inc.)
HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SafeBoot => "AlternateShell"="microsoft.exe"Alterations made by the installer:
Monitored program
File system details [View: All details] (Selection)
---------------------------------------------------
Adds the folder C:\Program Files (x86)\PC Cleaner Inc\PC Cleaner
Adds the file MicrosoftTool.exe"="4/11/2016 8:12 PM, 13824 bytes, A
Adds the file MicrosoftTool.InstallState"="5/25/2016 8:20 AM, 2597 bytes, A
Adds the file p.ico"="4/11/2016 7:37 PM, 23162 bytes, A
Adds the file PC_cleaner.exe"="4/11/2016 8:12 PM, 591360 bytes, A
Adds the file PC_cleaner_database.exe"="4/11/2016 8:12 PM, 208896 bytes, A
Adds the file pccleaner.jpg"="4/11/2016 8:12 PM, 4378 bytes, A
In the existing folder C:\Windows
Adds the file tv.exe"="4/11/2016 8:12 PM, 2763104 bytes, A
In the existing folder C:\Windows\Installer
Adds the file 390fad.msi"="5/25/2016 8:18 AM, 4510720 bytes, A
Registry details [View: All details] (Selection)
------------------------------------------------
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Installer\Assemblies\C:|Program Files (x86)|PC Cleaner Inc|PC Cleaner|MicrosoftTool.exe]
"MicrosoftTool,Version="1.0.0.0",Culture="neutral",ProcessorArchitecture="x86""="REG_MULTI_SZ, "fGXtZ~'L4=+8Ue0,=eEZ>f(wc`qw8{1UdvzUA%vwp "
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Installer\Features\93F065E92BF4D0549847D872E1058AC9]
"DefaultFeature"="REG_SZ", ""
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Installer\Products\93F065E92BF4D0549847D872E1058AC9]
"AdvertiseFlags"="REG_DWORD", 388
"Assignment"="REG_DWORD", 1
"AuthorizedLUAApp"="REG_DWORD", 0
"Clients"="REG_MULTI_SZ, ": "
"DeploymentFlags"="REG_DWORD", 3
"InstanceType"="REG_DWORD", 0
"Language"="REG_DWORD", 1033
"PackageCode"="REG_SZ", "E1375EB62464C3A43BC67024EFC200E5"
"ProductIcon"="REG_SZ", "C:\Windows\Installer\{9E560F39-4FB2-450D-8974-8D271E50A89C}\_853F67D554F05449430E7E.exe"
"ProductName"="REG_SZ", "PC Cleaner"
"Version"="REG_DWORD", 16777216
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Installer\Products\93F065E92BF4D0549847D872E1058AC9\SourceList]
"LastUsedSource"="REG_EXPAND_SZ, "n;1;C:\Users\{username}1\AppData\Local\Temp\"
"PackageName"="REG_SZ", "MSIDF29.tmp"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Dfrg\BootOptimizeFunction]
"OptimizeComplete"= REG_SZ, "No"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\Folders]
"C:\Program Files (x86)\PC Cleaner Inc\"="REG_SZ", ""
"C:\Program Files (x86)\PC Cleaner Inc\PC Cleaner\"="REG_SZ", ""
"C:\Windows\Installer\{9E560F39-4FB2-450D-8974-8D271E50A89C}\"="REG_SZ", ""
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]
"Shell"= REG_SZ, "microsoft.exe"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\{9E560F39-4FB2-450D-8974-8D271E50A89C}]
"AuthorizedCDFPrefix"="REG_SZ", ""
"Comments"="REG_SZ", ""
"Contact"="REG_SZ", "PC Cleaner Inc."
"DisplayName"="REG_SZ", "PC Cleaner"
"DisplayVersion"="REG_SZ", "1.0.0"
"EstimatedSize"="REG_DWORD", 4094
"HelpLink"="REG_SZ", ""
"HelpTelephone"="REG_SZ", ""
"InstallDate"="REG_SZ", "20160525"
"InstallLocation"="REG_SZ", ""
"InstallSource"="REG_SZ", "C:\Users\{username}1\AppData\Local\Temp\"
"Language"="REG_DWORD", 1033
"ModifyPath"="REG_EXPAND_SZ, "MsiExec.exe /I{9E560F39-4FB2-450D-8974-8D271E50A89C}"
"Publisher"="REG_SZ", "PC Cleaner Inc."
"Readme"="REG_SZ", ""
"Size"="REG_SZ", ""
"UninstallString"="REG_EXPAND_SZ, "MsiExec.exe /I{9E560F39-4FB2-450D-8974-8D271E50A89C}"
"URLInfoAbout"="REG_SZ", ""
"URLUpdateInfo"="REG_SZ", ""
"Version"="REG_DWORD", 16777216
"VersionMajor"="REG_DWORD", 1
"VersionMinor"="REG_DWORD", 0
"WindowsInstaller"="REG_DWORD", 1
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SafeBoot]
"AlternateShell"= REG_SZ, "microsoft.exe"
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware log:Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
www.malwarebytes.org
Scan Date: 5/25/2016
Scan Time: 9:53 AM
Logfile: mbamTSSafterUninstall.txt
Administrator: Yes
Version: 2.2.1.1043
Malware Database: v2016.05.25.03
Rootkit Database: v2016.05.20.01
License: Premium
Malware Protection: Disabled
Malicious Website Protection: Enabled
Self-protection: Enabled
OS: Windows 7 Service Pack 1
CPU: x64
File System: NTFS
User: {username}
Scan Type: Threat Scan
Result: Completed
Objects Scanned: 311774
Time Elapsed: 8 min, 17 sec
Memory: Enabled
Startup: Enabled
Filesystem: Enabled
Archives: Enabled
Rootkits: Enabled
Heuristics: Enabled
PUP: Enabled
PUM: Enabled
Processes: 1
Rogue.TechSupportScam, C:\Config.Msi\3714dd.rbf, 2948, Delete-on-Reboot, [ec2bd505cacfff3745eec012af52b050]
Modules: 0
(No malicious items detected)
Registry Keys: 0
(No malicious items detected)
Registry Values: 0
(No malicious items detected)
Registry Data: 0
(No malicious items detected)
Folders: 0
(No malicious items detected)
Files: 2
Rogue.TechSupportScam, C:\Config.Msi\3714dd.rbf, Delete-on-Reboot, [ec2bd505cacfff3745eec012af52b050],
Rogue.TechSupportScam, C:\Users\{username}\Desktop\setup.exe, Quarantined, [37e055851f7afa3cdc59f5dd28d9cc34],
Physical Sectors: 0
(No malicious items detected)
(end)As mentioned before the full version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware could have protected your computer against this threat.We use different ways of protecting your computer(s):
- Dynamically Blocks Malware Sites & Servers
- Malware Execution Prevention
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